Culture has been an important part of human life for centuries. Traditions and beliefs influence the way people live and think. In modern times, pop culture refers to the popular forms of media and trends adopted by the masses. Technological advancements with the internet and smart phones have enabled people to be influenced worldwide. Every person interprets the information and ideas revealed by pop culture in a different way. I think that it has positive and negative influences on American society. It is natural for humans to want acceptance from our peers, and popular trends help connect the public with similar interests. Forms of pop culture like music, film, and fashion can bring people together and it helps define individuality. People can also use pop culture as inspiration to achieve goals or create a business. Countless successful careers can be credited from the exposure of influential artists and innovators. Certain content in pop culture can cause distractions and negative influence as well. Social media has boomed over recent years, and anything can be found on the internet. Academics can be neglected because of social media amusement, and some genres of music and film can promote violence and substance abuse. The film and music genre of pop culture interests me the most. I appreciate all styles and actually decided to pursue a career in film and music. One of my favorite influential artists is Donald Glover, aka Childish Gambino. He is an actor, writer, and musician. I am looking forward to improving my writing in this course, and I am definitely intrigued with the essay topics.